Internet outage pre-empts first Indy Open Test session

The IndyCar Series’ Open Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway got off to a rough start Wednesday morning when a complete failure of the trackside internet connection forced the end to the two-hour session moments after it started.

With the field of 34 cars on pit lane for the 10am start, drivers pulled away, completed an installation lap, and returned to the pits to have their cars inspected before heading out to do their first runs. But a loss of communication between race control, their pit lane officials, and teams was the first indicator that something had gone awry.

The switch to digital communications in recent years meant a loss of internet killed the connection between the series and its teams, along with instant messaging between race control and the 34 timing stands and timing and scoring.

With the loss of the two-hour session for veterans, the series announced an expected start to activities at 12:45pm for veterans and an updated schedule to follow for rookies and those in need of completing refresher runs.